System and method of selecting a data detection technique for a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system

ABSTRACT

A system and method of selecting a data detector alternately implement different data detection techniques such as maximum likelihood, zero forcing, and minimum mean square error. Selection of a particular technique may depend upon various factors. In some implementations, a decision whether to employ a specific strategy may be based upon a modulation and coding scheme utilized by the multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/914,500, filed Apr. 27, 2007, entitled “Performance Study of MIMO Equalization: Maximum Likelihood (ML) vs Zero Forcing (ZF),” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

Aspects of the present invention relate generally to wireless communication techniques, and more particularly to an equalization system and method alternately implementing different data detection techniques such as, for example, maximum likelihood and zero forcing.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently, the wireless communication industry has demonstrated an increasing interest in multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) systems. For example, MIMO beamforming systems have been considered in standards promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), most notably the IEEE 802.11n standard for wireless local area networks (WLANs). One advantage of beamforming methodologies is that they can increase the data rate between networked devices without the attendant increase in transmit power or bandwidth that would be necessary to achieve a similar data rate in MIMO systems without beamforming. Spatial multiplexing techniques for MIMO systems have also been considered in several standards such as the IEEE 802.11a/g standard. One advantage of spatial multiplexing is that it can increase channel capacity at high signal to noise ratios (SNRs).

One relatively popular MIMO equalization approach uses maximum likelihood (ML) data detection techniques. Generally, ML detection is considered optimal to the extent that it exhaustively searches all the distances between a received data vector and the universe of possible data vectors in the constellation to identify an optimal point or data stream, i.e., the data received on multiple dimensions are considered collectively. In many instances, an exhaustive search ML approach may be too complex to be practical, so many systems employ a limited ML approach constrained by hardware or processing bandwidth limitations. Zero forcing (ZF) techniques, on the other hand, forcibly decouple the data received on each dimension (e.g., by zeroing out inter-antenna interference), then detect or decode each received data stream individually. In that regard, ML techniques, even limited by system constraints, can exhibit significant performance advantages as compared to so-called “sub-optimal” ZF techniques, particularly for flat fading channels and lower order modulation schemes such as Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)-16 and Quaternary Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) operating at low SNRs.

In theory, under ideal conditions (i.e., no radio frequency (RF) or other system impairments), and where processing power is unlimited, it is expected that exhaustive search ML strategies will always provide superior results as compared to ZF strategies, particularly with respect to MIMO systems. However, in practical applications, RF impairments such as phase noise, flicker noise, power amplifier non-linearities, in-phase/quadrature-phase (I/Q) mismatches, and carrier frequency offsets, either individually or in combination, can affect performance of both ML and ZF techniques.

Therefore, it may be desirable in some instances to provide an equalization system and method that can advantageously employ different data detection techniques depending, for example, upon certain circumstances or certain operating conditions.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention overcome the above-mentioned and various other shortcomings of conventional technology, providing a system and method of selecting a data detector that alternately implement different data detection techniques such as maximum likelihood, zero forcing, and minimum mean square error. Selection of a particular technique may depend upon various factors. In some implementations, a decision whether to employ a specific strategy may be based upon a modulation and coding scheme utilized by the MIMO system.

The foregoing and other aspects of various embodiments of the present invention will be apparent through examination of the following detailed description thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIGS. 1-4 are graphs illustrating results of performance studies comparing maximum likelihood techniques with zero forcing techniques and plotting frame error rates versus signal to noise ratios for several modulation and coding schemes.

FIGS. 5-6 are graphs illustrating results of performance studies comparing maximum likelihood techniques with zero forcing techniques and plotting frame error rates versus signal to noise ratios taking into account phase noise effects.

FIG. 7 is a simplified table illustrating certain modulation and coding schemes for wireless fidelity applications.

FIG. 8 is a simplified high level functional block diagram of a multiple input, multiple output system capable of alternately implementing different data detection techniques.

FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating operation of one embodiment of a method of selecting a data detection strategy for a multiple input, multiple output system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Introduction

The equalization techniques described below may be utilized for flat fading channels as well as for frequency selective fading channels with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). For simplicity, the following discussion addresses the technology in the context of single carrier systems for flat fading channels; those of skill in the art will appreciate that the disclosed methodologies may readily be extended to be implemented in OFDM systems.

In order to evaluate the relative advantages of exhaustive search maximum likelihood (ML) techniques as compared to zero forcing (ZF) techniques, a performance study has been conducted for different multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) configurations under spatial multiplexing for two or three spatial streams. The study involved a wireless local area network (WLAN) as a system platform. It will be appreciated that the techniques described herein may have utility in connection with various communications standards including, but not limited to, the wireless fidelity (WiFi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11a/g) and the worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) (e.g., IEEE 802.16) standards.

As noted above, exhaustive search ML techniques are generally expected to outperform ZF techniques under ideal conditions. However, one assumption that leads to this expectation is that only “white noise” (i.e., noise that is uncorrelated and of equal power among all dimensions) affects the MIMO system. In real applications, phase noise is a major contributor to errors caused by RF impairment; this phase noise may result from random phase changes in a local oscillator, for instance, when a received signal is down-converted to baseband. Phase noise can introduce inter-carrier interference (ICI), which nullifies the “white noise assumption.” As set forth in more detail below, when phase noise reaches a threshold value at certain signal to noise ratios (SNRs), ML techniques may experience an error floor.

The performance study included 2×2, 2×3, 3×3, and 3×4 (transmitter antennae×receiver antennae) configurations, for Quaternary Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)-16, and QAM-64 modulation schemes. The study considered all of the following RF impairments: phase noise; flicker noise (1/f noise); power amplifier non-linearities; in-phase/quadrature-phase (I/Q) mismatches; and carrier frequency offsets. Phase noise was considered at 150 kHz bandwidth with up to 1 degree root-mean-square (rms) 0 values. The flicker noise value was −101 dBm, and the carrier offset values ranged from 60 kHz to 120 kHz.

FIGS. 1-4 are graphs illustrating, results of performance studies comparing maximum likelihood techniques with zero forcing techniques and plotting frame error rates versus signal to noise ratios for several modulation and coding schemes.

The results illustrated in FIG. 1 were obtained using a 2×2 MIMO configuration and two spatial streams, while the results illustrated in FIG. 2 were obtained using a 2×3 MIMO configuration and two spatial streams. As indicated at the left and center of FIG. 1, for QPSK and QAM-16 modulation schemes, respectively, the ML technique provides approximately a 5 dB gain over the ZF technique at a frame error rate (FER) of about 1%. However, with respect to the higher order modulation (QAM-64) at higher SNRs, the ML technique floors due to ICI as indicated at the right of FIG. 1. As indicated at the left and center of FIG. 2, for QPSK and QAM-16, respectively, the ML technique provides a relatively smaller performance gain (approximately 1.5 or 2.0 dB) over the ZF technique where the FER is about 1%. Also, with respect to QAM-64 at higher SNRs, the ML technique and the ZF technique provide similar performance as indicated at the right of FIG. 2. The improved performance of the ZF systems (in FIG. 2 as compared to FIG. 1) may be attributable to introduction of the additional receive antenna, which provides an additional array gain. The fact that the ML system did not exhibit an error floor in the configuration that provided the FIG. 2 data may also be attributable to the additional receive antenna.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a similar trend, where the results illustrated in FIG. 3 were obtained using a 3×3 MIMO configuration and three spatial streams, while the results illustrated in FIG. 4 were obtained using a 3×4 MIMO configuration and three spatial streams. With three receive antennae and QPSK modulation, the ML system provides a performance gain of approximately 10 dB where the FER is about 1%; this advantage is reduced to about 5.5 dB where four receive antennae are employed. Similarly, a performance gain of about 7 dB is reduced to about 4 dB where an additional receive antenna is used with QAM-16 modulation.

As is clearly indicated by the data, the performance advantages of ML systems decrease when the number of receive antenna paths exceeds the number of spatial streams. The effects of additional array gain may substantially benefit systems employing various types of modulation schemes including, but not limited to, Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), QPSK, QAM-16, and QAM-64. Also, the data show that for higher order modulations with high coding rates operating at high SNRs (e.g., QAM-64, rate ¾), ML systems may experience the error floor phenomenon due to practical impairments that result in ICI or that otherwise create deleterious RF interference.

FIGS. 5-6 are graphs illustrating results of performance studies comparing maximum likelihood techniques with zero forcing techniques and plotting frame error rates versus, signal to noise ratios taking into account phase noise effects. The data for FIG. 5 were obtained on a DNLOS channel, while the data in FIG. 6 were obtained on a BNLOS channel, which is relatively less frequency selective. The results illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 were obtained using a 2×2 MIMO configuration and two spatial streams; as indicated in the legends, the root mean square phase noise values were θ=0.0, θ=0.4, and θ=1.0. One goal of the study that resulted in the data of FIGS. 5 and 6 was to determine a phase noise value at which an ML system might fail, i.e., exhibit an error floor and substantially underperform a ZF system. A QAM-64 modulation scheme was tested, as this scheme can support both WiFi (e.g., IEEE 802.11n) and WiMAX (e.g., IEEE 802.16) applications.

Ideally, the rms of the angle (θ) value for phase noise is 0; in this situation, an exhaustive search ML system exhibits about a 3.0 dB performance advantage over a ZF system when the FER is about 1%. Where the phase noise has a 0.4 degree rms θ value, however, this advantage decreases to about 2.2 dB for the same FER. Additionally, as can be seen at the two plots furthest to the right of FIGS. 5 and 6, the ML system floors and performs substantially worse than the ZF system at an operating SNR of about 33 dB or 34 dB; these data were obtained using a phase noise having a 1.0 degree rms θ value, which is typical for MIMO systems in WiFi or WiMAX applications.

FIGS. 5 and 6 indicate a marked decrease in performance of ML techniques for higher order modulation schemes with typical phase noise when the operating SNR is above about 33 dB. As the SNR increases (e.g., to the range above about 35 dB), ICI terms tend to dominate over noise power levels, causing the rate of performance degradation in increase.

Implementation

In accordance with some embodiments, an equalization system and method alternately implementing both ML and ZF data detection techniques may employ ML detection for lower order modulations (such as QPSK and QAM-16), on the one hand, and ZF detection for higher order modulations (such as QAM-64), on the other hand. In some instances, implementing ML for higher order modulation may become too complex to be practical, and the error floor problem makes such systems inferior to ZF strategies for certain schemes operating at high SNRs in any event. It is difficult to obtain both the benefits of ML and the benefits of ZF in systems with realistic impairments for all modulation codes. Accordingly, a strategy of selectively switching between different data detection techniques depending, for example, upon a given modulation and coding scheme (MCS), desired or required data throughput rates, and operating conditions (such as SNR, phase noise, and other communications parameters), represents a good compromise between overall system performance and implementation complexity.

In that regard, FIG. 7 is a simplified table illustrating certain modulation and coding schemes for wireless fidelity applications. It will be appreciated that only a few MCS options are provided in FIG. 7 by way of example, and that many more MCSs are generally available for a particular communication standard.

For rate adaptation and to maintain a stable or desired physical (PHY) data rate, adaptation techniques may be employed selectively to implement a particular MCS and a specific data detection technique (e.g., either ML or ZF) as a function of operating environment, system capabilities, user or administrator preferences, communications parameters, or a combination of these and other criteria. For example, to maintain a PHY data rate of 162.0 kilobits per second (kbps), either MCS 12 or MCS 19 may be selected. Whereas an ML technique has a 5.5 dB performance advantage over a ZF technique for MCS 19, it may nevertheless be desirable in some circumstances to employ a ZF technique with MCS 12, which only underperforms by 2.5 dB, for the same PHY data rate. This is especially true where phase noise is considered and the system is operating at a high SNR.

In a WiFi or WiMAX system, for example, ML detection may be used for a QPSK MCS, since the number of points in the constellation is generally small (so exhaustive searching may readily be conducted without requiring excessive processing loads) and since the performance gain is substantial over ZF techniques. With respect to a QAM-16 MCS, however, exhaustive search ML schemes may be very difficult to implement; in this case, it may be desirable to use another data detection scheme such as ZF. With respect to QAM-64, for instance, the data in FIGS. 1-6 suggest that ZF strategies are most appropriate. It will be appreciated that other detection techniques may also be implemented. For example, a minimum mean square error (MMSE) approach may be used in lieu of ZF, or may be used in addition to ML or ZF approaches.

In that regard, FIG. 8 is a simplified high level functional block diagram of a multiple input, multiple output system capable of alternately implementing different data detection techniques. As indicated in FIG. 8, a MIMO system 800 may generally comprise an antenna array 811 and RF module 812, a processor 820, a selector module 830, and data detectors 891-893.

In some embodiments, the functional blocks illustrated in FIG. 8 may be implemented as hardware components. For example, the various elements may be integrated into a single, monolithic integrated circuit (IC) or an application specific IC (ASIC). Additionally or alternatively, some or all of the functional blocks may be implemented independently (i.e., on multiple ICs or chips), for instance, using programmable logic hardware or more than one ASIC. In some implementations, various elements may be programmable or otherwise configurable in accordance with system requirements, communications protocols, and other factors affecting desired or necessary operational characteristics of system 800. In that regard, some of the functional blocks of system 800 may be implemented in software or other encoded instruction sets, for example, executed by processor 820. Accordingly, the term “module” in the context of the following description is intended to encompass both hardware and software embodiments of a particular functional block; those of skill in the art will appreciate that any number of software applications or instruction sets, and various circuitry or hardware components supported by firmware may readily be designed to support the functionality set forth herein.

Antenna array 811 and RF module 812 generally include hardware elements operative to enable bi-directional wireless communications as is generally known. As set forth above, array 811 and module 812 may enable system 800 to communicate in accordance with various standards such as WiFi and WiMAX. Processor 820 may be embodied in or comprise a general purpose microprocessor, microcomputer, microcontroller, or any other type of data processing engine suitably configured and operative to support the functionality of system 800. It will be appreciated that various technologies may have utility in applications of array 811, module 812, and processor 820; the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the structural nature or operational characteristics of the elements illustrated in FIG. 8.

Selector module 830 may be operative, e.g., under control of or otherwise in cooperation with processor 820, to select a particular detector 891-893 in accordance with various criteria. In that regard, selector module 830 may determine the type of MCS employed by system 800 for particular applications. In some embodiments, a detector 891-893 may be selected in accordance with the detected MCS. For example, if the MCS is QAM-64, ZF detector 891 or MMSE detector 893 may be selected, whereas if the MCS is QPSK or QAM-16, ML detector 892 may be selected.

Additionally or alternatively, a detector 891-893 may be selected in accordance with an operating SNR, a desired PHY data rate, or a combination of these factors. As set forth above with reference to FIGS. 1-6, SNR can affect operation of numerous system components, and in particular, can adversely affect ML techniques when employed in conjunction with certain MCSs. In such embodiments, if the MCS is QAM-64, ZF detector 891 may be selected for a certain SNR or a certain range, whereas MMSE detector 893 may be selected for other SNR values or a different range. In the foregoing manner, even when the MCS does not change, the data detection technique may be tuned in accordance with real-time system operating conditions or other factors.

It will be appreciated that various types of detectors 891-893 are generally known and suitable for wireless communication applications. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to any particular structural or architectural arrangement for detectors 891-893. Further detectors 891-893 may be configured and operative to execute any of various algorithms or instruction sets generally known or developed in accordance with known principles. Any suitable hardware element, ASIC, or other circuitry adapted to perform zero forcing detection, exhaustive search ML detection, and MMSE detection is contemplated for detectors 891-893, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating operation of one embodiment of a method of selecting a data detection strategy for a multiple input, multiple output system. It will be appreciated that the operations depicted in FIG. 9 may readily be executed by, e.g., the system 800 illustrated in FIG. 8 or by any similarly capable system.

As indicated at block. 901, a method of selecting a data detector may begin by determining an MCS employed by the MIMO system. In some instances, a detector may be selected (block 903) in accordance with the MCS. For example, where only two detectors (one of which is an ML detector) may be employed and the MCS is QAM-64, a detector (e.g., a ZF or MMSE detector) other than the ML detector may be selected based (solely, in this case) upon the MCS.

In some implementations, selection of a detector (at block 903) may additionally be facilitated by identifying communications parameters or other operating conditions as indicated at block 902. For example, a PHY data rate or operating SNR may be identified at block 902, and this identification may influence selection at block 903. In these embodiments, an appropriate data detection technique may be implemented in accordance with operating conditions (such as varying SNR, real-time processing loads, and the like) even when the MCS is not changed.

As set forth above, a system and method as described herein may employ exhaustive search ML data detection at lower order modulations, while selecting ZF or MMSE data detection at higher order modulations, higher SNR values, or both. It will be appreciated that, in this context “lower order” modulation generally defines constellations having relatively fewer points than “higher order” modulation. While BPSK, QPSK, and QAM-16 are generally considered lower order and QAM-64 is generally considered higher order, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to these MCSs. It will be appreciated that the relative distance between the constellation points is generally shorter for higher order modulations. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to select a data detection technique based upon the normalized Euclidian distance between the receive point and all the constellation points, where greater distances generally represent lower order modulation schemes.

Several features and aspects of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail with reference to particular embodiments by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that alternative implementations and various modifications to the disclosed embodiments are within the scope and contemplation of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be considered as limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method of selecting a data detector; said method comprising: determining, using one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices, a particular modulation and coding scheme of a plurality of modulation and coding schemes employed by a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) system; identifying, using one or more IC devices, one or more communications parameters; and selecting, using one or more IC devices, a particular data detection technique of a plurality of data detection techniques employed by the MIMO system in accordance with said determining and said identifying, wherein at least one data detection technique of the plurality of data detection techniques is selectable in accordance with more than one modulation and coding scheme of the plurality of modulation and coding schemes.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more communications parameters comprises identifying a desired data rate.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the particular data detection technique comprises selecting a data detection technique responsive to the desired data rate.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more communications parameters comprises identifying an operating signal to noise ratio (SNR).
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein selecting the particular data detection technique comprises selecting a data detection technique responsive to the operating SNR.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting comprises alternately, employing a first data detection technique and a second data detection technique depending upon results of said determining and said identifying.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first data detection technique is maximum likelihood and wherein the first data detection technique is selected when the modulation and coding scheme is determined to be a lower order modulation.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the lower order modulation is determined to be in the group consisting of: Binary Phase Shift Keying; Quaternary Phase Shift Keying; and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation-16.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the second data detection technique is zero forcing and wherein the second data detection technique is selected when the modulation and coding scheme is determined to be a higher order modulation.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the second data detection technique is minimum mean square error and wherein the second data detection technique is selected when the modulation and coding scheme is determined to be a higher order modulation.
 11. The method of claim 6, wherein said selecting further comprises alternately employing a third data detection technique depending upon results of said determining and said identifying.
 12. A multiple input, multiple output system comprising: a processor controlling hardware components to perform the method of claim
 1. 13. A multiple input, multiple output system comprising: a processor; a plurality of data detectors wherein each respective one of said plurality of data detectors employs a respective data detection technique; and a selector module operative in cooperation with said processor to select, in accordance with a particular modulation and coding scheme of a plurality of modulation and coding schemes employed by said system, one of said plurality of data detectors to decode a data stream received by said system, wherein at least one data detector of the plurality of data detectors is selectable in accordance with more than one modulation and coding scheme of the plurality of modulation and coding schemes.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein one of said plurality of data detectors is a maximum likelihood detector.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said selector module selects said maximum likelihood detector when the particular modulation and coding scheme is a lower order modulation.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein one of said plurality of data detectors is a zero forcing detector.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said selector module selects said zero forcing detector when the particular modulation and coding scheme is a higher order modulation.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein one of said plurality of data detectors is a minimum mean square error detector.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said selector module selects said minimum mean square error detector when the particular modulation and coding scheme is a higher order modulation.
 20. The system of claim 13, wherein said selector module is further operative to select one of said plurality of data detectors in accordance with a communications parameter.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the communications parameter-is a desired data rate.
 22. The system of claim 20, wherein the communications parameter-is an operating signal to noise ratio.
 23. A multiple input, multiple output system comprising: a processor; a first detector to decode, using a maximum likelihood technique, a data stream received by said system; a second detector to decode, using a zero forcing technique, a data stream received by said system; and a selector module operative in cooperation with said processor to select one of said first detector and said second detector in accordance with a particular modulation and coding scheme of a plurality of modulation and coding schemes employed by said system, wherein at least one of the first detector and the second detector is selectable in accordance with more than one modulation and coding scheme of the plurality of modulation and coding schemes.
 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said selector module selects said first detector when the particular modulation and coding scheme is a lower order modulation.
 25. The system of claim 23, wherein said selector module selects said second detector when the particular modulation and coding scheme is a higher order modulation.
 26. The system of claim 23, wherein said selector module is further operative to select one of the said first detector and said second detector in accordance with a communications parameter.
 27. The system of claim 23, further comprising: a third detector to decode, using a minimum mean square error technique, a data stream received by said system, wherein said selector module is further operative to select one of said first detector, said second detector, and said third detector. 